boston bruins

Blackhawks and Bruins Meet in Original Six Final

The National Hockey League's battle for Lord Stanley's Cup is about to begin.

The Chicago Blackhawks will represent the Western Conference after defeating the reigning champion LA Kings in five games. The clincher was a thrilling double overtime victory, but the entire series really showed why and how the Blackhawks managed the best regular season record in the entire NHL. They appear to be primed for their run to the top.

In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins swept the Pittsburgh Penguins, destroying the chances of the up-and-down all-season Pens in thorough fashion. Sidney Crosby, of the Penguins, might still be the best player in the NHL world, but the real story here was the defense of the B's, which was particularly strong in this series, but has stood out for the entirety of the playoffs. After their back and forth series with the Toronto Maple Leafs and a remarkable Game 7 comeback, the Bruins have set themselves apart from their opponents with stifling defense and a stingy goalkeeper in the form of Tuukka Rask.

The finals, set to begin tonight on NBC at 6 MST, represent the first meeting between two of the Original Six NHL teams since 1979. While both clubs, then, obviously have long histories, Boston's is a bit more decorated, with 6 championships, stretching back to 1929. Chicago has a mere 4, with its first coming in 1934. However, both teams have had recent success with the Blackhawks winning in 2010 and the Bruins following them up in 2011. With the defending champs out the way, a new king will be crowned and either way they'll have a familiar taste.